Chapter Eleven

Morning also found Vonndrake's broken army stirring and setting out to the land of Hyrule. Order had been given out to round up any remaining people left in the war torn land and bring them back to the makeshift cells strewn around the camp. The werewolves had no idea why Vonndrake wanted the humans, but they did as they were told nonetheless.

Eril was worried. He'd woken up just like the others and hadn't seen Blox anywhere in sight. He checked the open stone baths, checked the breakfast hall, the soldier barracks...everywhere, and still he hadn't found him or caught word of his whereabouts.

"What's the matter with you?" someone said from behind Eril. He turned around and saw a couple of men. "Didn't you hear the order?"

"What order?" Eril wondered and some of the others chuckled at him. However the first one who had spoken to him was willing to explain things to him.

"Vonndrake has requested that all of us go look for any strays outside and haul them back here," he explained. "But especially this Link fellow. He wants him alive." The name sent a dagger going down Eril's spine. So that's where he'd gone. Under the cover of darkness Blox had set out on his own, simply to seek out revenge. And he hadn't heard the orders...

The man noticed Eril's sudden pale face.

"Link...alive?" Eril stammered, "but why? Why does he want him alive? That boy is a disgrace to us werewolves." The man shrugged.

"Beats me, but whatever Vonndrake desires shall be done," he said simply. He grinned and with the others left the shivering coward behind. Eril's grey eyes were wobbling with fear, and his skin was suddenly wet with cold sweat. If Blox gets away with killing Link his fate was doomed. Not only his, but Eril's too for he knew it all along...

- - -

"What the hell are you!" Dante snarled. The door swung violently on its hinges before slamming against the wall. "Why do you have werewolf blood running in your veins?" Link sat up and gave out a low growl, but it came out weak and almost raspy. His waning strength was to blame, and Dante immediately noticed it. He began advancing, his eyes fixed on Link's with an unblinking gaze.

"One of your bitches made me like this..." Link muttered. Dante paused, his aggression melting away into something of hurt and then pain.

"So you're the one who's responsible for this glorious mess..." he spat. A look of confusion crossed Link's face.

"Mess?" Link repeated under his breath. Dante eyed him, and then sighed out angrily. 'Obviously my friend here hasn't the slightest clue what's going on...' Dante thought irritably. Again a sigh passes his lips.

"The war, idiot," he growled. "Why so many people are dying...you killed Vonndrake's daughter!" Link's heart tightened. Nisih...was Vonndrake's daughter? Goddesses, what had he done? It all made sense now. The mass numbers of werewolves, the war...why those two were so intent on killing him. And Paer's betrayal...Link felt as if something had just kicked him in the gut. 'All because of me...countless lives had to suffer,' he realized. Dante looked even more upset than before. There was more for Link to know.

"Ever since Vonndrake heard about his daughter's death at your hands he has since forced werewolves to join in his cause," Dante shook his head slowly. "No one was safe, not even us 'peace-loving' werewolves."

"So why aren't you with him, or did you run away with your tail between your legs?" Link muttered. Dante stared him dead in the eyes, but then his gaze dropped.

"Yes, I ran away. But not after he killed my family..." he said, his voice empty. "Unfortunately Vonndrake didn't give anyone a choice. Either you joined or died. So I fled...like a coward." The dark haired boy suddenly looked as if the world didn't matter to him any longer, that he was the only one left in its unforgiving grasp.

"I'm...sorry," Link whispered. "It's all my fault. I wish there was a way..."

"Damn right it was your fault," Dante growled. He sounded defiant and hurt at the same time. "If only you hadn't killed the bitch this wouldn't be happening." With a snarl Dante began to depart from Link's presence. "If only you knew the suffering you have put me through..."

"I do know it," Link said as he reached the door. The boy paused, his back to Link. "Nisih didn't curse me with not only her blood, but with the isolation and hurt the people will throw at me." Dante made a scoffing sound.

"Only you Hylians will view werewolf blood as a curse," he said.


Note: So Link knows...and boy does he feel bad. D Hmm, I wonder what Blox is up to...